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MOST POPULAR ARTICLES OF 2011

Click. Print. Love.—The FLoid® Cell Imaging Station Is That Easy

what it is
The FLoid® Cell Imaging Station provides easy access to fluorescence imaging. Designed in collaboration with fluorescence microscopy users, the FLoid® device captures high-quality fluorescence images right at your bench. The interface is so simple that even novices can collect three-color overlay images in a few minutes.

what it offers

Simplicity—collect and process images using an intuitive user interface, and print data images that peel and stick directly into your notebook

Accessibility—capture fluorescent cell images at your bench, not in the darkroom

how it worksThe FLoid® Cell Imaging Station features a bright-field relief phase and three fluorescence channels. The innovative design allows imaging using a variety of sample vessels, from microscope slides to multiwell plates to T-flasks. Images from each channel can be processed, overlaid, and printed with a few clicks. Data can be saved as image overlays or as separate images from the individual channels, in several file formats. The interface features seven languages and a reagent guide with protocols, information, and reference images across 20 biological categories.

how it works
Three-parameter population analysis using the Tali™ Image-Based Cytometer can be completed in approximately 1 minute using 25 µL of sample. The Tali™ cytometer performs analyses by simultaneously capturing a series of bright-field and fluorescent images and then using sophisticated digital image analysis algorithms to determine the total and fluorescent cell counts and calculate their concentrations. The Tali™ cytometer provides the option to save the assay data and to export the data as a report.

what it is
With the Attune® Acoustic Focusing Cytometer, you can get the best of two worlds: high sample-throughput rate, and high sensitivity for analyzing precious samples or detecting rare events. The Attune® cytometer is now available with a blue/red laser configuration, so you can select the configuration that best fits your research needs.

what it offers

Precision—high collection rates without compromising CV

Speed—rare-event detection up to 10 times faster than other cytometers

Simplicity—no-lyse, no-wash method avoids cell loss

how it works
Using the Attune® cytometer with the red laser option, analysis of stained mouse whole blood with a stain/lyse protocol shows excellent separation of cell populations into subsets for immunophenotyping experiments using up to 6 colors. There is strong signal separation for data clarity, and 6-color detection is easily performed with the automated compensation module. In addition, the Attune® cytometer generates less waste than other systems do, due to its low sheath fluid usage per run.

what it is
The MAGPIX® system is a versatile, affordable, and compact fluorescence detection system based on proven Luminex® xMAP® bead-based technology. The MAGPIX® system is capable of performing up to 50 multiplex immunoassays on a single biological sample. It helps deliver fast, accurate, and reproducible results while saving time and cost and conserving valuable samples.

what it offers

Ideal immunoassay tool—simultaneous analysis of up to 50 proteins from a limited volume of precious samples

Reduced time and cost—compared to multiple- and single-analyte ELISAs or western blots

Ease of use—designed to work with a broad and expanding range of Invitrogen™ immunoassay magnetic bead kits

how it works
The MAGPIX® system captures data from singleplex and multiplex immunoassays. It is ideal for both new and experienced Luminex® technology users. The MAGPIX® instrument makes use of novel light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for excitation and CCD camera technology for bead and analyte detection. As a result, the MAGPIX® system is inexpensive and occupies minimal bench space. The system also has streamlined startup and shutdown protocols and requires minimal maintenance, making it easy to operate.

what it is
The Qubit® Fluorometric Platform combines the newly redeveloped Qubit® 2.0 Fluorometer with the Qubit® assays for nucleic acid quantitation. The instrument and assays have been seamlessly integrated to create a quantitation platform that is far more sensitive and accurate than UV absorbance. Qubit® assays (previously known as Quant-iT™ assays) are compatible with both Qubit® 1.0 and Qubit® 2.0 Fluorometers.

what it offers

Larger LCD color touch screen

Automated data logging and USB port for efficient data management

Display of a standard curve after the calibration

Step-by-step workflow navigation

how it works
As a result of customer feedback, the next-generation Qubit® 2.0 Fluorometer has an improved user interface and data storage and transfer mechanisms, making the instrument more intuitive and easy to use. Qubit® assays, which utilize the proven performance of Molecular Probes® fluorescent dyes, complete the seamless integration of the platform, resulting in a high level of accuracy and specificity for nucleic acid quantitation.

Selectivity of Qubit® assays compared to UV spectrophotometry.Triplicate samples containing lambda DNA (10 ng/μL) and varying amounts of E. coli ribosomal RNA (0–100 ng/μL) were assayed using Qubit® DNA BR and Qubit® RNA BR assays according to kit protocols. The same samples were subsequently measured in triplicate using a NanoDrop® ND-1000 Spectrophotometer, and single measurements were made using a PerkinElmer Lambda 35 Spectrophotometer. The red and orange trendlines indicate the actual concentrations of DNA and RNA, respectively, in the starting samples. The data indicate that UV analysis cannot distinguish between DNA and RNA.

Sensitive Oxidative Stress Detection—CellROX™ Deep Red Reagent

what it is
CellROX™ Deep Red Reagent is a novel fluorogenic probe for detecting oxidative stress in cells. The bright, deep red–fluorescent signal is compatible with other live-cell dyes and GFP, making it useful in multiplex fluorescence assays to measure a variety of cellular phenomena, including cytotoxicity and cell death. Unlike many other sensors of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the signal from CellROX™ Deep Red Reagent is retained after formaldehyde fixation.

what it offers

Compatible with GFP and Alexa Fluor® 488 dye

Suitable for live-cell imaging or formaldehyde-based fixation

Validated with multiple platforms

how it works
The cell-permeant CellROX™ dye is nonfluorescent in its reduced state and exhibits bright fluorescence upon oxidation by ROS. Its emission at ~665 nm is measurable by fluorescence imaging, high-content imaging, fluorescence plate readers, and flow cytometry.

Detection of oxidative stress using CellROX™ Deep Red Reagent. BPAE cells were plated in a 96-well plate, treated with 100 μM menadione for 1 hr to induce oxidative stress, then stained with 5 μM CellROX ™ Deep Red Reagent, 20 nM MitoTracker® Green, and Hoechst 33342 for 30 min in complete medium. Cells were then washed 3 times with PBS. Control cells (left) show no signal, while the menadione-treated cells (right) show an increase in signal as a result of oxidative stress.

what it is
The CellEvent™ Caspase-3/7 Green Detection Reagent is a new reagent for apoptosis imaging that does not require any wash steps, is compatible with high-content imaging, and is well suited for multiplex imaging in live or fixed cells.

how it works
The CellEvent™ Caspase-3/7 Green Detection Reagent consists of the DEVD peptide sequence conjugated to a nucleic acid–binding dye. The substrate is nonfluorescent, as the DEVD peptide inhibits the ability of the dye to bind to DNA. In the presence of activated caspase-3/7, the DEVD peptide is cleaved, enabling the dye to bind to DNA and produce bright fluorescence. The fluorescence emission of the dye when bound to DNA is ~530 nm and can be observed using a standard FITC filter set.

New Antibodies for the MAPK Signaling Pathway—ABfinity™ Monoclonal Antibodies

what they are
The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway mediates signal transduction from cell surface receptors to downstream transcription factors, leading to cellular responses such as cell proliferation, growth, motility, survival, and apoptosis. We offer new antibodies for detection of phosphorylation events around key targets within this pathway.

what they offer
ABfinity™ monoclonal antibodies are rigorously validated across multiple applications. The process for manufacturing these antibodies is designed to decrease any lot-to-lot inconsistency in biological reactivity, which results in less variability in your experiments.

how they work
ABfinity™ monoclonal antibodies are recombinant antibodies developed by immunizing animals, screening for functionality, and cloning the immunogen-specific antibody genes into high-level expression vectors. The antibodies are produced on a large scale by expressing them in mammalian cells and purifying them with protein A. Just like antibodies isolated from serum or produced by hybridomas, ABfinity™ recombinant monoclonal antibodies are highly specific for their immunogen. The intact IgG appears on a nonreducing gel as a ~150 kDa band, and upon reduction resolves into a ~25 kDa light-chain band and a ~50 kDa heavy-chain band.

what they are
The popular pHrodo™ dye, a fluorogenic pH sensor for endocytosis in live-cell studies, is now offered in two additional formats: in a microscale antibody/protein labeling kit, and as an avidin conjugate for use with any biotinylated target. pHrodo™ dye exhibits pH-sensitive red fluorescence that increases in intensity with increasing acidity. pHrodo™ dye is essentially nonfluorescent in the extracellular environment but exhibits bright red fluorescence at pH 5–7 as it is endocytosed. Although we call the dye pHrodo™ Red, these products contain the same pHrodo™ dye as our pHrodo™ SE; pHrodo™ dextran, and pHrodo™ BioParticles® for phagocytosis.

what they offer

Flexibility to create your own probes for investigations of phagocytosis and endocytosis

Compatibility for multiplexing with green dyes such as GFP, fluo-4, and calcein

Designed and tested for imaging, flow cytometry, and HTS/HCS (microplate) applications

how they work
pHrodo™ Red Avidin and the pHrodo™ Red Microscale Labeling Kit offer rapid means to make any material, including proteins, peptides, viruses, and small molecules, a pHrodo™ Red conjugate. The labeling kit includes reagents for 3 labeling reactions of 20–100 µg protein, with excellent recovery, and can also be used for labeling viruses. Alternatively, pHrodo™ Red Avidin can be used to create bioconjugates using the easy, high-affinity avidin–biotin interaction. Use pHrodo™ Red Avidin when a biotinylated target already exists.

what they are
New streamlined kits using the Click-iT® EdU Flow Cytometry Assay for cell proliferation analysis are available. Standard aldehyde-based fixation and detergent permeabilization are sufficient for the Click-iT® detection reagent to access DNA and label the incorporated EdU, making direct S-phase measurements available typically in less than 90 minutes.

what they offer

Streamlined step-by-step protocols

Two kit sizes: 50- and 100-test kits

Results typically obtained within 90 minutes

how they work
Incorporation of EdU provides a direct measurement of new DNA synthesis in cells, and detection using click chemistry eliminates the need to denature DNA. The Click-iT® advantage is in the chemistry—small, unique, low-background labeling and detection moieties react specifically and covalently, offering consistent results.

*No purchase necessary. This promotion is available only to life science professionals 21 years or older in the US and Canada. Free Handbook is available for requests received no later than March 31, 2012, or until Handbook supplies are depleted, whichever comes first. The estimated value of the Handbook is $19.99 USD. One free gift per person. By submitting a request, you warrant that you are not prohibited by employment, contract, or law from accepting a gift from Life Technologies. Offer void where prohibited, licensed, or restricted by federal, state, provincial, or local laws or regulation or agency/institutional policy. Other restrictions may apply.